The historic report detailed decades of abuse by hundreds of priests.
John Buffone, jbuffone@ydr.com

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James Faluszczuk, right, who was abused in the Erie diocese, cries as Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania, Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. (Photo: Ty Lohr, York Daily Record)Buy Photo

Among the hundreds of "predator priests" named in a Pennsylvania grand jury report are several men who brought their victims to the Jersey Shore.

And one priest, whom the grand jury's report lambastes as an example of the Catholic church's "wholesale institutional failure that endangered the welfare of children," lived in the Whiting section of Manchester, where the report says he tried to take pictures of a young girl showering at his home and collected child pornography.

Read the full report and see which "predator priests" brought victims to the Jersey Shore in the graphic at the end of this story.

The Rev. Augustine Giella abused the girl and four of her sisters while leading St. John the Evangelist church in Enhaut, Pennsylvania, and in later years during his retirement to a "New Jersey beach house" and then at his home in Whiting, in Ocean County, the report says. Gielle previously spent 29 years in ministry in other New Jersey communities.

The report levels fresh charges that the Catholic church covered up abuse for decades, and further tethers the Jersey Shore to that scandal. Just a month ago, Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, former head of the Diocese of Metuchen and the archdiocese of Newark, was removed from his post following allegations of abuse, including that he brought victims to a home the Diocese purchased in Sea Girt.

'They paid for their silence'

One of the sisters whom the report says was abused by Giella, Carolyn Fortney, now 37, spoke publicly for the first time about the abuse in a Tuesday news conference. Giella began abusing Fortney when she was 18 months old and continued until she was 12, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

The youngest of the sisters came forward in 1992, prompting a law enforcement search of Giella's New Jersey home. Giella was charged with child pornography and sexual abuse, but died while awaiting trial.

“The family of the sisters abused by this predator have never been able to tell their story until today,” Shapiro said. “They were gagged from speaking by a confidentiality agreement insisted on by the Diocese in exchange for settling their claims against the church. Instead of helping these girls heal, they paid for their silence.”

In a video played during the news conference, Fortney wiped tears from her eyes and fought sobs as she explained the lasting impact of the abuse.

Giella had previously served in parishes in Hackensack, Jersey City, Cliffside Park and Glen Rock until 1980. After he "suddenly decided to seek ministry elsewhere," Newark Archbishop Peter Gerety wrote him a recommendation and in 1980 Giella was reassigned to Pennsylvania.

The report says the church had prior warning Giella was a problem and could have prevented the abuse: A high school teacher came forward in 1987 and complained to clergy that Giella insisted on watching a girl use the bathroom. Clergy never went to police, the report says.

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Attorney General Josh Shapiro acknowledges survivors prior to outlining the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania, Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Survivor Sharon Tell, in red, sits and listens as Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania, Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania, Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania, Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

A survivor of child sexual abuse by a priest cries as Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania, Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Survivors comfort each other while Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania, Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

James Faluszczuk, right, who was abused in the Erie diocese, cries as Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania, Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

James Faluszczuk, right, who was abused in the Erie diocese, cries as Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania, Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Judy Deaven, of Harrisburg, weeps as Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania on Aug. 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Survivors Shaun Dougherty, right, and Sharon Tell listen as Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania, Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

State representative Mark Rozzi (D-Berks) speaks to media about the findings of the grand jury's report means to him after the press conference, Tuesday, August 14, 2018. Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

State representative Mark Rozzi (D-Berks) speaks to media about the findings of the grand jury's report means to him after the press conference, Tuesday, August 14, 2018. Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Survivor James Faluszczuk, who was abused by a priest in the Erie diocese, center, speaks with media the press conference on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Survivor James Faluszczuk, who was abused by a priest in the Erie diocese, speaks with media the press conference on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Survivor James Faluszczuk, who was abused by a priest in the Erie diocese, speaks with media the press conference on Tuesday, August 14, 2018. Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Survivors of priest abuse Juliann Bortz, from left, Jim VanSickle and James Faluszczuk speak about their feeling of relief spawning from the press conference, Tuesday, August 14, 2018. Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Survivors of priest abuse in the Catholic Church Jim VanSickle, left, and James Faluszczuk speak to reporters after Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania, Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

'I have closure,' said Shaun Daugherty, a survivor of sexual abuse by a priest, speaks to media after Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania, Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

'I have closure,' said Shaun Daugherty, a survivor of sexual abuse by a priest, speaks to media after Attorney General Josh Shapiro outlined the findings of the grand jury investigation into six catholic diocese in Pennsylvania, Tuesday, August 14, 2018. The grand jury's report detailed child sexual abuse and coverup by more than 300 clergy. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Survivors listen as Attorney General Josh Shapiro speaks during a new conference on the release of a grand jury report detailing decades of sexual abuse of children in six Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Attorney General Josh Shapiro comforts Judy Deaven, whose son overdosed after becoming addicted to painkillers from a back injury sustained while being sexually abused by a priest. Shapiro was speaking during a news conference on the release of a grand jury report detailing decades of sexual abuse of children in six Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania. She said when Shapiro reached out to her, she felt pure compassion. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro talks about a statewide grand jury report on Catholic clergy abuse in six dioceses on Tuesday, encompassing 301 accused priests and more than 1,000 victims. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Survivors weep as Attorney General Josh Shapiro speaks during a new conference on the release of a grand jury report detailing decades of sexual abuse of children in six Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

Survivors weep while a video plays before a news conference with Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro in conjunction with the release of a grand jury report detailing sexual abuse of children from six Catholic dioceses. Ty Lohr, York Daily Record

'Vacations' to the Shore

The grand jury report names five priests who brought victims to Atlantic City the Shore, though it does not name specific towns. The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office did not respond to a request for more information Wednesday.

Reverends Fabian G. Oris and Gregory F. Premoshis took their victims on trips to Atlantic City, according to the grand jury report, which also says:

Thomas Kerestus took a male victim on "vacations to Canada, Florida and the New Jersey shore." Three boys reported abuse by Kerestus, who retired from the church and died in 2014.

Joseph Bucolo took a 10-year-old boy on a two-day trip to the "New Jersey shore area," according to the boys' parents, who reported acts "unbecoming a Catholic priest" in 1971. Another victim settled claims against Bucolo for $20,000 in 2010.

Ferdinand B. Demsher took boys to Wildwood, where he supplied them with alcohol. Demsher died in 1983, before three victims came forward.

Three other priests worked in New Jersey, according to the report: A. Gregory Uhrig in Metuchen from 1985 to 1995, and who now works as a weekend assistant at Our Lady of Lourdes in Readington, part of the Diocese of Metuchen; John P. Connor at parishes in Vineland, Gloucester, Haddon Heights and Haddon Township and Pennsauken between 1962 and 1985; and James Hopkins, at the Diocese of Camden, in 1993.

Do you know these priests? We'd like to hear about their time in the area. Call reporter Stacey Barchenger at 732-643-4245 or email sbarchenger@gannettnj.com.

The grand jury reviewed 500,000 internal documents from six of eight dioceses in Pennsylvania and heard from dozens of victims during the course of its investigation, resulting in allegations against more than 300 people the report calls "predator priests."

More than 1,000 children were victims of rape, groping and other sexual acts, the report says.

"But all of them were brushed aside, in every part of the state, by church leaders who preferred to protect the abusers and their institution above all," the report reads. "As a consequence of the coverup, almost every instance of abuse we found is too old to be prosecuted.

"We are sick over all the crimes that will go unpunished and uncompensated," the grand jurors wrote in the report.

New policies for Catholic Church

James Goodness, a spokesman for the Newark Archdiocese, said the church has changed its approach to dealing with the issue of sexual abuse so that "there should be a basic reassurance that what may have occurred years ago is not occurring now."

Since 2002, he said, the church has "been reporting every allegation that comes to our attention immediately to law enforcement."

He said schoolchildren are taught about boundaries, and, "background checks are now standard and are repeated every five years. We actively call for people who have been victims to come forward and report it to the church. We provide counseling to victims."

He said he hopes Catholics will not lose their faith or flee the church.

"This is certainly a trying moment and it continues to be," he said. "But you don't put your faith in an individual," he said. "You put your faith in Jesus."

'Tip of the iceberg'

Mitchell Garabedian, a Boston-based attorney for sexual abuse victims, believes this report is just the “tip of the iceberg.”

“After the first wave of brave survivors usually comes a second wave," Garabedian said. “Victims empower other victims. They might feel as though they would not be believed, but when they hear others have come forward they do so as well.”

Garabedian has experience with sexual abuse cases in North Jersey, having represented seven of the 21 victims who settled against 10 Irish Christian Brothers from Bergen Catholic High School for $1.9 million in August 2016.

Though unfamiliar with Giella, Garabedian “wouldn’t be surprised to learn many of the priests listed in the report worked in New Jersey before or after” their time in Pennsylvania.

“It is well known that pedophile priests are shuffled around through churches by supervisor priests to continue secret sexual abuse,” he said.

The release of the grand jury report will only help to “continually drive home the fact that pedophile priests are committing crimes and that supervising priests are also committing crimes by letting them get away with it.”

“This just shows the need to amend the statue of limitations to provide transparency and a safer environment for children,” Garabedian said.

Meanwhile, in Cliffside Park, an administrative assistant Church of the Ephiphany who knew Giella well had a difficult time reconciling her memories with the awful depictions of Giella.

“He was a gentle, kind of man who was in charge of the altar servers," recalled Cathy Eichler.

"My son was one, and he never said a word. ... He said Mass very well — I really never thought anything was wrong.”